Glossary

Glossary items by topic: Physics

The coldest possible temperature, at which all molecular
motion stops. On the Kelvin temperature scale, this temperature is the zero
point (0 K), which is equivalent to –273° C and –460° F.

Alpha Process

A process by which lighter elements capture helium nuclei
(alpha particles) to form heavier elements. For example, when a carbon nucleus
captures an alpha particle, a heavier oxygen nucleus is formed.

Amplitude

The size of a wave from the top of a wave crest to its
midpoint.

Angular Momentum

A property that an object, such as a planet revolving
around the Sun, possesses by virtue of its rotation or circular motion. An object’s
angular momentum cannot change unless some force acts to speed up or slow down
its circular motion. This principle, known as conservation of angular momentum,
is why an object can indefinitely maintain a circular motion around an axis
of revolution or rotation.

Antimatter

Matter made up of elementary particles whose masses are
identical to their normal-matter counterparts but whose other properties, such
as electric charge, are reversed. The positron is the antimatter counterpart
of an electron, with a positive charge instead of a negative charge. When an
antimatter particle collides with its normal-matter counterpart, both particles
are annihilated and energy is released.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that possesses chemical properties.
All atoms have the same basic structure: a nucleus containing positively charged
protons with an equal number of negatively charged electrons orbiting around
it. In addition to protons, most nuclei contain neutral neutrons whose mass
is similar to that of protons. Each atom corresponds to a unique chemical element
determined by the number of protons in its nucleus.

Atomic Nucleus

The positively charged core of an atom consisting of protons
and (except for hydrogen) neutrons, and around which electrons orbit.

Celsius (Centigrade) Temperature Scale

A temperature scale on which the freezing point of water
is 0° C and the boiling point is 100° C.

Chemical Compound

A pure substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or
more different elements. The elements are in definite proportions. A chemical
compound usually possesses properties unlike those of its constituent elements.
For example, table salt (the common name for sodium chloride) is a chemical
compound made up of the elements chlorine and sodium.

Chemical Evolution

The chemical (i.e., pre-biological) changes that transformed
simple atoms and molecules into the more complex chemicals needed for the origin
of life. For example, hydrogen atoms in the cores of stars combine through nuclear
fusion to form the heavier element helium.

Collisional Process

An event involving a collision of objects; for example,
the excitation of a hydrogen atom when it is hit by an electron.

Color

The visual perception of light that enables human eyes
to differentiate between wavelengths of the visible spectrum, with the longest
wavelengths appearing red and the shortest appearing blue or violet.

Conservation of Energy And Mass

A fundamental law of physics, which states that the total
amount of mass and energy in the universe remains unchanged. However, mass can
be converted to energy, and vice versa.

Convection

The transfer of heat through a liquid or gas caused by
the physical upwelling of hot matter. The heat transfer results in the circulation
of currents from lower, hotter regions to higher, cooler regions. An everyday
example of this process is boiling water. Convection occurs in the Sun and other
stars.

Density

The ratio of the mass of an object to its volume. For
example, water has a density of one gram of mass for every milliliter of volume.

Deuterium

A special form of hydrogen (an isotope called “heavy
hydrogen”) that has a neutron as well as a proton in its nucleus.

Doppler Effect

The change in the wavelength of sound or light waves caused
when the object emitting the waves moves toward or away from the observer; also
called Doppler Shift. In sound, the Doppler Effect causes a shift in sound frequency
or pitch (for example, the change in pitch noted as an ambulance passes). In
light, an object’s visible color is altered and its spectrum is shifted toward
the blue region of the spectrum for objects moving toward the observer and toward
the red for objects moving away.

The science dealing with the physical relationship between
electricity and magnetism. The principle of an electromagnet, a magnet generated
by electrical current flow, is based on this phenomenon.

Electron

A negatively charge elementary particle that typically
resides outside the nucleus of an atom but is bound to it by electromagnetic
forces. An electron’s mass is tiny: 1,836 electrons equals the mass of
one proton.

Electron Volt (eV)

A unit of energy that is equal to the energy that an electron
gains as it moves through a potential difference of one volt. This very small
amount of energy is equal to 1.602 * 10–19 joules. Because an electron volt
is so small, engineers and scientists sometimes use the terms MeV (mega-million)
and GeV (giga-billion) electron volts.

Element

A substance composed of a particular kind of atom. All
atoms with the same number of protons (atomic numbers) in the nucleus are examples
of the same element and have identical chemical properties. For example, gold
(with 79 protons) and iron (with 26 protons) are both elements, but table salt
is not because it is made from two different elements: sodium and chlorine.
The atoms of a particular element have the same number of protons in the nucleus
and exhibit a unique set of chemical properties. There are about 90 naturally
occurring elements on Earth.

Elementary Particles

Particles smaller than atoms that are the basic building
blocks of the universe. The most prominent examples are photons, electrons,
and quarks.

Escape Velocity

The minimum velocity required for an object to escape
the gravity of a massive object.

Event Horizon

The spherical outer boundary of a black hole. Once matter
crosses this threshold, the speed required for it to escape the black hole’s
gravitational grip is greater than the speed of light.

Excited State

A greater-than-minimum energy state of any atom that is
achieved when at least one of its electrons resides at a greater-than-normal
distance from its parent nucleus.

Fahrenheit Temperature Scale

A temperature scale on which the freezing point of water
is 32° F and the boiling point is 212° F.

Fission

A nuclear process that releases energy when heavyweight
atomic nuclei break down into lighter nuclei. Fission is the basis of the atomic
bomb.

Flux

The flow of fluid, particles, or energy through a given
area within a certain time. In astronomy, this term is often used to describe
the rate at which light flows. For example, the amount of light (photons) striking
a single square centimeter of a detector in one second is its flux.

Frequency

Describes the number of wave crests passing by a fixed
point in a given time period (usually one second). Frequency is measured in
Hertz (Hz).

Fusion

A nuclear process that releases energy when light atomic
nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei. Fusion is the energy source for stars
like our Sun.

Geosynchronous Orbit

Also known as geostationary. An orbit in which an object
circles the Earth once every 24 hours, moving at the same speed and direction
as the planet’s rotation. The object remains nearly stationary above a
particular point, as observed from Earth. The International Ultraviolet Explorer
(IUE) and some weather satellites are examples of satellites in geosynchronous
orbit.

Gravitational Constant (G)

A value used in the calculation of the gravitational force
between objects. In the equation describing the force of gravity, “G”
represents the gravitational constant and is equal to 6.672 * 10–11 Nm2/kg2.

Gravitational Instability

A condition that occurs when an object’s inward-pulling
gravitational forces exceed the outward-pushing pressure forces, thus causing
the object to collapse on itself. For example, when the pressure forces within
an interstellar gas cloud cannot resist the gravitational forces that act to
compress the cloud, then the cloud collapses upon itself to form a star.

Gravity (Gravitational Force)

The attractive force between all masses in the universe. All objects that have mass possess a gravitational force that attracts all other masses. The more massive the object, the stronger the gravitational force. The closer objects are to each other, the stronger the gravitational attraction.

Ground State

The minimum energy state of an atom that is achieved when
all of its electrons have the lowest possible energy and therefore are as close
to the nucleus as possible.

Intensity

The amount, degree, or quantity of energy passing through
a point per unit time. For example, the intensity of light that Earth receives
from the Sun is far greater than that from any other star because the Sun is
the closest star to us.

Inverse Square Law

A law that describes any quantity, such as gravitational
force, that decreases with the square of the distance between two objects. For
example, if the distance between two objects is doubled, then the gravitational
force exerted between them is one-fourth as strong. Likewise, if the distance
to a star is doubled, then its apparent brightness is only one-fourth as great.

Ion

An atom with one or more electrons removed (or added),
giving the atom a positive (or negative) charge.

Ionization

The process by which ions are produced, typically by collisions
with other atoms or electrons, or by absorption of electromagnetic radiation.

Isotope

An atom of a given element having a particular number
of neutrons in the nucleus. Isotopes of a given element differ in the numbers
of neutrons within the nucleus. Adding or subtracting a neutron from the nucleus
changes an atoms mass but does not affect its basic chemical properties.

Kelvin Scale

The temperature scale most commonly used in science, on
which absolute zero is the lowest possible value. On this scale, water freezes
at 273 K and boils at 373 K.

Kilometer (km)

A measure of distance in the metric system equal to 1000
meters or about 0.6 of a mile.

Kinetic Energy

The energy that an object has by virtue of its motion.

Lyman Limit

A specific wavelength (91.2 nm) that corresponds
to the energy needed to ionize a hydrogen atom (13.6 eV). Galactic space
is opaque at wavelengths shorter than the Lyman limit. Subsequently, light from
cosmic objects at wavelengths less than the Lyman limit is exceedingly difficult
to detect.

Magnetic Field

A region of space in which magnetic forces may be detected
or may affect the motion of an electrically charged particle. As with gravity,
magnetism has a long-range effect and magnetic fields are associated with many
astronomical objects.

Mass

A measure of the total amount of matter contained within
an object.

Matter-Antimatter Annihilation

A highly efficient energy-generation process in which
equal amounts of matter and antimatter collide and destroy each other, thus
producing a burst of energy.

Molecular Velocity

The average speed of the molecules in a gas of a given
temperature.

Molecule

A tightly knit group of two or more atoms bound together
by electromagnetic forces among the atoms’ electrons and nuclei. For example,
water (H2O) is two hydrogen atoms bound with one oxygen atom. Identical molecules
have identical chemical properties.

Neutrino

A neutral, weakly interacting elementary particle having
a very tiny mass. Stars like the Sun produce more than 200 trillion trillion
trillion neutrinos every second. Neutrinos from the Sun interact so weakly with
other matter that they pass straight through the Earth as if it weren’t
there.

Neutrino Detector

A device designed to detect neutrinos.

Neutron

A neutral (no electric charge) elementary particle having
slightly more mass than a proton and residing in the nucleus of all atoms other
than hydrogen.

Non-Thermal Radiation

Radiation that is not produced from heat energy —
for example, radiation released when a very fast-moving charged particle (such
as an electron) interacts with a magnetic force field. Because the electron’s
velocity in this case is not related to the gas temperature, this process has
nothing to do with heat.

Nuclear Transformation

The process by which an atomic nucleus is transformed
into another type of atomic nucleus. For example, by removing an alpha particle
from the nucleus, the element radium is transformed into the element radon.

Opacity

The degree to which light is prevented from passing through
an object or a substance. Opacity is the opposite of transparency. As an object’s
opacity increases, the amount of light passing through it decreases. Glass,
for example, is transparent and most clouds are opaque.

Periodic Table (of the Elements)

A chart of all the known chemical elements arranged according
to the number of protons in the nucleus (also known as the atomic number). Elements
with similar properties are grouped together in the same column.

Photoelectric Effect

The release of electrons from a solid material when it
is struck by radiant energy, such as visible or ultraviolet light, X-rays, or
gamma rays.

Photon

A packet of electromagnetic energy, such as light. A photon
is regarded as a charge-less, mass-less particle having an indefinitely long
lifetime.

Planck Curve

The graphical representation of the mathematical relationship
between the frequency (or wavelength) and intensity of radiation emitted from
an object by virtue of its heat energy.

Plasma

A substance composed of charged particles, like ions and
electrons, and possibly some neutral particles. Our Sun is made of plasma. Overall,
the charge of a plasma is electrically neutral. Plasma is regarded as an additional
state of matter because its properties are different from those of solids, liquids, and
normal gases.

Potential Energy

The energy of an object owing to its position in a force
field or its internal condition, as opposed to kinetic energy, which depends
on its motion. Examples of objects with potential energy include a diver on
a diving board and a coiled spring.

Proton

A positively charged elementary particle that resides
in the nucleus of every atom.

Proton-Proton Chain

A series of nuclear events occurring in the core of a
star whereby hydrogen nuclei (protons) are converted into helium nuclei. This
process releases energy.

Quark

A basic building block of protons, neutrons, and other
elementary particles.

RADAR (Radio
Detection and Ranging)

A method of detecting, locating, or tracking an object
by using beamed, reflected, and timed radio waves. RADAR also refers to the
electronic equipment that uses radio waves to detect, locate, and track objects.

Radiative Process

An event involving the emission or absorption of radiation.
For example, a hydrogen atom that absorbs a photon of light converts the energy
of that radiation into electrical potential energy.

Radioactivity

The spontaneous decay of certain rare, unstable, atomic
nuclei into more stable atomic nuclei. A natural by-product of this process
is the release of energy.

Relativity

A theory of physics that describes the dynamical behavior
of matter and energy. The consequences of relativity can be quite strange at
very high velocities and very high densities. A direct result of the theory
of relativity is the equation E = mc2, which expresses
a relationship between mass (m), energy (E), and the speed of light (c).

Revolution

The orbital motion of one object around another. The Earth
revolves around the Sun in one year. The moon revolves around the Earth in approximately
28 days.

Rotation

The spin of an object around its central axis. Earth rotates
about its axis every 24 hours. A spinning top rotates about its center shaft.

Shock Wave

A high-pressure wave that travels at supersonic speeds.
Shock waves are usually produced by an explosion.

Spacetime

The four-dimensional coordinate system (three dimensions
of space and one of time) in which physical events are located.

Speed Of Light (c)

The speed at which light (photons) travels through empty
space is roughly 3 * 108 meters per second or 300 million meters per second.

Strong Force

The force that binds protons and neutrons within atomic
nuclei and is effective only at distances less than 10—13 centimeters.

Temperature

A measure of the amount of heat energy in a substance,
such as air, a star, or the human body. Because heat energy corresponds to motions
and vibrations of molecules, temperature provides information about the amount
of molecular motion occurring in a substance.

Thermal Radiation

Radiation released by virtue of an object’s heat, namely,
the transfer of heat energy into the radiative energy of electromagnetic waves.
Examples of thermal radiation are sunlight, the orange glow of an electric range,
and the light from in incandescent light bulb.

Turbulence

Unstable and disorderly motion, as when a smooth, flowing
stream becomes a churning rapid.

Velocity

The speed of an object moving in a specific direction.
A car traveling at 35 miles per hour is a measurement of speed. Observing that
a car is traveling 35 miles per hour due north is a measurement of velocity.

Wave

A vibration in some media that transfers energy from one
place to another. Sound waves are vibrations passing in air. Light waves are
vibrations in electromagnetic fields.

Wavelength

The distance between two wave crests. Radio waves can
have lengths of several feet; the wavelengths of X-rays are roughly the size
of atoms.

Weak Force

The force that governs the change of one kind of elementary
particle into another. This force is associated with radioactive processes that
involve neutrons.